Chaz Bono to ‘DWTS’ Viewers: We’re Normal

When “Dancing with the Stars” knocked on the door of Chaz Bono – the only child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono who underwent a female-to-male surgery last year – he didn’t hesitate for a second to say yes.

And he has an altruistic reason. “I’m an activist first and foremost, so that’s always in the back of my mind. And I look at this as just a wonderful opportunity to bring my message to even more people than I’ve had a chance to. So, yeah, I said yes immediately,” Bono said at the cast reveal earlier this week.

Bono hopes to show the millions of “DWTS” viewers that transgender people “are normal people.” He told XfinityTV.com, “I’m not gonna be up here preaching. I hope people will just take the time to get to know me on the show and realize that transgender people are just like everybody else. It’s a really positive show so I hope that comes through.”

That said, he called the process “daunting” and said he’s in a bit of pain from his first rehearsal. “I’m in pain, but it’s not as bad as I thought. I had a lot of worst fears and it’s none of them … so far,” he told us.

As for mom Cher showing up in the ballroom to cheer her son on, he said, “I don’t know. I have no idea. I’m sure she’ll make an appearance maybe.”